About the Church of the Nazarene

The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the Church is now home to more than 1.9 million members worshiping in over 24,000 local congregations in 156 world areas.

Our Mission

The mission of the Church of the Nazarene is to make Christlike disciples in the nations.

Global Ministry Center

The Global Ministry Center provides support services that include maintaining ministerial credentials and church records, coordinating the support and sending of missionaries, developing Sunday School and discipleship curriculum, providing retirement support programs for pastors, encouraging the starting of new churches, facilitating strategies of outreach and education to all parts of the globe, and much more. The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center is located in Lenexa, Kansas.

Nazarenes are passionate about making a difference in the world by taking the good news of Jesus Christ to people everywhere. Today there are 724 missionaries and volunteers serving around the world. Each week, Nazarenes worship in more than 212 languages or tribal languages, with literature produced in 90 of these. The church operates 33 medical clinics and hospitals worldwide. This missionary enterprise is made possible by the contributions of the global Nazarene family. Nazarenes also engage in starting new churches and congregations by praying, giving, and supporting worldwide volunteers and contracted missionaries.

Theology

The Church of the Nazarene is the largest denomination in the classical Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. The doctrine that distinguishes the Church of the Nazarene and other Wesleyan denominations from most other Christian denominations is that of entire sanctification. Nazarenes believe that God calls Christians to a life of holy living that is marked by an act of God, cleansing the heart from original sin and filling the individual with love for God and humankind. This experience is marked by entire consecration of the believer to do God's will and is followed by a life of seeking to serve God through service to others. Like salvation, entire sanctification is an act of God's grace, not of works. Our pursuant service to God is an act of love whereby we show our appreciation for the grace that has been extended to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A Tradition of Service

Nazarenes are a compassionate people. We believe in serving others. This is expressed locally through the services of members to their communities. Contributions from Nazarenes make possible the administration of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM). Following the example of Jesus, NCM seeks to educate, clothe, shelter, feed, heal, and ultimately empower those who suffer under oppression, injustice, violence, poverty, hunger, and disease. Through 180 Compassionate Ministry Centers, 95 Child Development Centers, about 100 projects, and many volunteer efforts, Nazarenes are instrumental in assisting people in every part of the globe who have been affected by war, famine, hurricane, flood, and other natural and manmade disasters.

The worldwide network of Nazarene churches makes it possible for the denomination to serve as a conduit of assistance to hurting nations. Nazarenes provide money for food, medical supplies, clothing, and other items to persons in a number of countries where there are pressing needs. In addition, the denomination’s missionary infrastructure is often used by World Relief and similar agencies when they need assistance in getting supplies to people in remote or troubled areas.

Nazarenes also offer their time and services on volunteer Work and Witness and Youth In Mission teams to build churches, schools, and clinics and to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

The Church of the Nazarene reaches out to persons around the globe through the power of technology. World Mission Broadcast sends Christ's message of hope via radio, television, and the Internet in 32 languages, to 74 countries, on 112 programs.